"Popular" literature

Great discussion today, everyone! I mentioned to you that often -- or historically -- "children's" literature and "popular novels" (like those of Stephen King) have been dismissed by English departments at universities. This is starting to change, happily. Can you think of a popular novel or a children's or young adult ("YA") book that you contend is an excellent example of "literary art"? Why is it? Does it do more than hold attention and entertain? Or, is satisfaction of those criteria alone enough to qualify a text as "literary" (we discussed this too)? I am anxious to read your responses!

Welcome to Introduction to Literature!

Since we did not get to discuss the two first-day questions listed on the syllabus, I will ask them here:  What is literature?  Why do we read it?  I look forward to reading your comments!